MANTOVA

MANTOVA
How to get there:
by train:
from San Bonifacio station, aproximatly 40 minutes.
By car:
Take the motorway A4 , in the direction of Milano, 3 km after ‘Verona Sud’ change to the A22 in
the direction of Modena, get off at ‘Mantova Nord’, follow the signs towards the centre.
Where to park:
planty of parking space outside the old city walls and everything is close on foot.
What to see:
One of the greatest little towns in the area (and a personal favourite of ours), on the banks of
lakes formed by the swelling of the Mincio river. It offers both natural and historical wonders.
It was the setting for Verdi’s ‘RIGOLETO’,
It’s the birth town of the poet Virgil,
And the place where Shakespeare sent his Romeo into exile from Verona…
It is one of the prettiest , most enchanting places you’ll ever see, and a town where the people are
just as beautiful and friendly as the scenery.
Mantova’s historical centre is fairly small.
The two most important highlights are: Pallazo Ducale, the home of the Gonzaga family, with the
very famouse frescoes by Mantegna (the ‘Camera Degli Sposi’).
The second is Pallazo té, Giolio Romano’s grand masterpiece of magnificent architecture and
lavishly painted walls.
If you don’t have time for both, we suggest choosing Palazzo Ducale since it’s in the centre and
from there you could strol onto Piazza Dell’ Erbe which is dominated by the Basilicata di Sant
Andrea, the lovely Rotonda di San Lorenzo and Palazzo Regione with its clock tower.
As in every small town , the best thing to do is to roam the streets and find special places that are
not in the guides, Mantova is full of great bars and cafés to sit in. don’t forget to lift your eyes and
look up, a lot of the buildings are painted and there are many small architectural gems everywhere.
Nature
The Lotus flower, one of the symbols of Mantova, also known as ‘Lotus Town’.
The lotus flower is part of the landscape, especially in the summer when the rosy flowers emerge
from the water with their huge green leaves and cover the lake.
Take a boat tour, they’re not very expansive.
Places of great appeal can be discovered by boat, canoe or motor vessels through wetlands filled
with reeds and lotus flower. The lakes are reserved national parks and you come across many
protected species such as herons and egrents as well as your average ducks and swans.
Famous destinations by boat are the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Della Grazie and
San Benedetto Po.
BOAT EXCURSIONS
Association “Per il Parco”
Tel: (0039) 0376 225724
(0039) 333 5669382
Association: “Barcaioli Del Mincio”
Tel: (0039) 0376 349292
(0039) 349 6194396
There are a lot of cycling paths which connect Mantova and its surrounding, it’s a very green area
and it’s a wonderful (not to mention healthy) way to see it.
What to do with the kids:
There is a ‘science park’ on the Lago di Mezzo lakeshore, right outside the town’s gates, where
children can experiment with educational games. It’s an area devised to attract and arouse
curiosity with a variety of scientific instruments and structures.
Feeding the ducks and swans on the lakeshore has also been known to keep the small ones busy
for hours (take some bread with you), plus there are great picnic tables there if it’s a nice day.
NOT FOR SMALL CHILDREN, or the faint of heart:
Castello Di San Giorgio has a museum of medieval torture instruments… in case someone
misbehaves…
We recommend:
•
ICECREEM! Across from the Rotonda, it’s home made, it’s tasty and they have great
strawberry ‘granita’ (slush).
•
If you have some time to spare, there is a wonderful old science theatre.
•
In the summer months there are night time tours on the lake when there is a full moon!
•
The statue of Rigoleto behind the Duomo.
•
Mantegna’s house.